MEETING RECORD FOR THE 126TH MEETING OF THE SCIENCE ADVISORY BOARD

Friday, September 13, 2002 International Joint Commission Offices, Windsor, Ontario

MEMBERS PRESENT

Isobel Heathcote (Canadian Co-chair), University of Guelph, Guelph, ON Michael J. Donahue (United States Co-chair), Great Lakes Commission, Ann Arbor, MI William Bowerman, Clemson University, Pendleton, SC John Braden, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL Scott Brown, National Water Research Institute, Burlington, ON David Carpenter, University at Albany, Rensselaer, NY Milton Clark, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Chicago, IL Glen Fox, Canadian Wildlife Service, Ottawa/Hull, ON Allan Jones, Burlington, ON Donna Mergler, University of Quebec, Montreal, PQ David Stonehouse, Evergreen, Toronto, ON Deborah Swackhamer, University of , , MN

MEMBERS ABSENT

Anders Andren, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI Maxine Cole, First Nations, Akwesasne, ON Donald Dewees, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON Jay Unwin, National Council for Air and Stream Improvement, Kalamazoo, MI Ross Upshur, Sunnybrook Health Science Centre, Toronto, ON

INVITEES/OBSERVERS

Douglas Alley, International Joint Commission, Windsor, ON Marty Bratzel, International Joint Commission, Windsor, ON Michael Gilbertson, International Joint Commission, Windsor, ON Bruce Kirschner, International Joint Commission, Windsor, ON Christiena Vyver (intern), International Joint Commission, Windsor, ON Richard Whitman, U.S. Geological Survey, Porter, IN SECRETARY

Peter Boyer International Joint Commission, Windsor, ON

1. WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS

Dr. Donahue called the meeting to order at 8:30 a.m. and brief self introductions followed.

2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA

Dr. Braden requested time on the agenda under other business to discuss an Area of Concern survey he was developing for the Waukegan Harbour area. Dr. Donahue suggested that a discussion of the 11th Biennial Report be considered for item #5, while all members were present. The additions were accepted to the agenda, and so approved.

3. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES

The secretary reminded the Board that the minutes of the 125th meeting received their tacit approval under the new International Joint Commission (IJC) policy of posting the minutes on the IJC web site, and therefore did not require further approval at a meeting. He inquired whether any of the members had any concerns with the new process, or whether they wished a further review at each meeting as a standing item on the agenda. Overall reaction from those present was that the approach used for the 125th meeting was satisfactory, and there was agreement that it was not necessary to review the minutes again at each meeting since they were already adopted through the email process.

4. INVITED SPECIAL PRESENTATION: “Policy and Science - Why Are We Closing the Beaches?”, Dr. Richard Whitman, Chief, Lake Michigan Research Station U.S..Geological Survey (U.S.GS), Porter, Indiana

Dr. Whitman distributed two U.S.GS fact sheets, #99-1 and #99-3, Improving Recreational Beach Monitoring on the Great Lakes and describing the Lake Michigan Ecological Research Station, respectively. He also distributed a call for abstracts for the Great Lakes Recreational Water Quality Association Annual meeting, to be held on October 30, 2002, at the South Shore Cultural Center, Chicago, Illinois. Dr. Whitman made a Power Point presentation of his research findings, Dr. Whitman outlined several important findings and questions related to his research:  water depth is an important function related to bacteria counts  the greatest occurance of bacteria is in the sand, yet there is no knowledge of health effects related to playing on the beach itself, such as when water contact is restricted  how many samples are necessary to close a beach? (Study to be published next month)  the role of watercourses, drainage improvements and land use impacts is not fully understood.

Dr. Whitman concluded his presentation with a brief review of new developments in biosensor technology, which could greatly improve the reliability of monitoring efforts in the future. In terms of long term data for the basin, Dr. Whitman responded to a question that Mr. David Rockwell of the U.S. EPA Great Lakes National Program Office maintains a data base of the number of closures in the Great Lakes over time.

5. 11TH BIENNIAL REPORT

The secretary summarized the writing process used to develop the report, beginning with a Commission science and policy symposium last fall. He added that the topics for the 11th completed a review process for the entire Agreement that was set out by the Commission in the 10th Biennial Report. He noted that many of the sections of the report were heavily based on the work of the Science Advisory Board, such as Chapter 2, as well as the Annex 1, and 3 reviews. Dr. Bowerman commented that in his view, Chapter 1 could have reflected more fully the advice and analysis provided by the Science Advisory Board in its priority report. Dr. Donahue questioned the relevance of Chapter 2 under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement.

Since most members had not yet had an opportunity to review the report, Dr. Donahue invited anyone wishing to share their comments among the membership, to post them on the Science Advisory Board listserver for further discussion.

6. UPDATE ON ANNEX 2 ACTIVITIES

Mr. Kirschner reported that an Area Of Concern (AOC) Special Report to Governments is currently being drafted, as indicated by the Commission as a follow up to the 11th Biennial Report. He commented that the future of status assessments was still under consideration, and that the governments have indicated that their preference for a role for the Commission is for greater assistance rather than evaluation. Dr. Swackhamer inquired whether there was any further response from the IJC regarding a status assessment for the Maumee AOC following the Science Advisory Board comments from the 125th meeting? Mr. Kirschner said no new status assessments are planned, and that current activities are essentially to complete what has already been done.

7. SCIENCE ADVISORY BOARD 2001-2003 WORK PLAN

 Work Group on Ecosystem Health

Mr. Fox reported on the status of three items being addressed by the work group: the fisheries retrospective, the upcoming mercury workshop, and the plan to address water borne pathogens at the upcoming November meeting. Mr. Fox summarized the review of the evidence for the demise of lake trout in relation to the levels of persistent toxic substances in the ambient waters of Lake Ontario. He noted that the lake trout is the most sensitive species in terms of dioxin and PCB toxicity. He said that Drs. Cook and Tillitt presented their research findings, and that it was concluded that it would have been impossible for lake trout populations to sustain themselves during the era from the 1940s through to the 1980s based on the impact of PTSs alone, notwithstanding other resource management issues. Mr. Fox commented that the establishment of water quality criteria for protection of lake trout reproduction needs to be incorporated into the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. He added that current ambient conditions have improved to the point where populations are starting to rebound.

Mr. Fox reported on the planning underway to hold a workshop on mercury, February 26-27 and said that the intention is to publish the proceedings in the Journal of Environmental Research. Mr. Fox concluded by stating that the work group would be inviting U.S. and Canadian experts to its next meeting to address the emerging issue concerning water borne pathogens.

 Work Group on Parties Implementation

Dr. Heathcote indicated her preference to step down as Canadian Cochair of the work group, and nominated Mr. Stonehouse as her replacement, with seconding by Dr. Bowerman. The motion was passed by all of those present. Mr. Stonehouse then provided a brief update on the land use priority. He indicated that GHK International, the contractor selected to assess the impact of urbanization on Great Lakes water quality have begun their work, and had provided an interim report to the work group. He stated that the intention was to complete a draft final report in October for use at a policy implications workshop being planned for November 13th. Mr. Stonehouse added that the workshop would be held as the work group regular meeting and would involve a small number of invited urban experts. He commented that one issue was to understand whether there is any linkage between smart growth and Great Lakes water quality. Mr. Fox suggested that one of the workshop participants be invited to be a dinner speaker for the Board dinner that evening for the 127th meeting.

 Work Group on Emerging Issues

Dr. Jones provided a brief summary of work group progress in planning an expert consultation meeting on emerging issues. He stated that the tentative meeting was being planned to be held at Wingspread early in February, and that a draft program is being developed by a planning committee involving representatives from the WQB and the CGLRM. Dr. Jones noted that a call is scheduled for September 16, to finalize further program details, and to select a facilitator to assist with the meeting.

8. BOARD LIAISON REPORTS

 Water Quality Board (WQB)

Dr. Bratzel reviewed the progress of the Board to date in addressing the climate change priority. He said that a white paper is being prepared, for availability in early January for a Workshop to be held in February. He added that the workshop would focus on the impact of climate change scenarios on the Great Lakes along with identifying adaptative measures, policy, and programs to mitigate effects. Dr. Mergler stated that it would also be important to place adaptive measures within a global perspective, and to include preventive aspects as well. Dr. Donahue suggested that previous Great Lakes work on climate change be revisited as well, including the Science Advisory Board’s and International Air Quality Advisory Board’s past reports and the Great Lakes Commission’s Working Group on Climate Change.

 International Air Quality Advisory Board (IAQAB)

Dr. Heathcote noted that the central issue for the two Boards is the cooperation and planning related to the Mercury Workshop. She added that with Dr. Hornbuckle’s resignation, there is interest in identifying candidates with similar expertise in the air- water interface, and in maintaining this close liaison role with the IAQAB.

 Council of Great Lakes Research Managers (CGLRM/Council)

Dr. Donahue reviewed Council support of Science Advisory Board priority activities, particularly on land use involving Harvey Shear and Pat Chow-Fraser, and emerging issues involving Joe Depinto and John Gannon, He added that the Council was also involved in Annex 2 activities, involving Jan Miller. Dr. Donahue noted that the research inventory is currently being improved, and that the Council will be promoting the inventory in order to increase its utility for the Great Lakes Research community. Dr. Donahue concluded by encouraging anyone on the Board involved with current research to make sure to post their information and to contact Mark Burrows, the Council secretary, if they have any questions.

9. SUMMARY OF SCIENCE ADVISORY BOARD (SAB) RECOMENDATIONS, 1973-2000

The secretary circulated a summary of past Science Advisory Board recommendations and reported that a full set of recommendations from the IAQAB/WQB/SAB/CGLRM had been compiled by the Board secretaries. He said that the set is readily searchable electronically, and he queried whether making this information available would be of interest or value. Several members responded that they considered such information very helpful in tracking issues historically, or to improve the drafting of future recommendations in priority reports. There was general agreement that the complete set of recommendations from all of the Boards would be most useful. It was recommended that the material be made available electronically, on the IJC web site.

10. FUTURE MEETINGS

Dr. Braden distributed explanatory text being developed for use with a planning survey being undertaken to address resident opinions on levels of cleanup and redevelopment in the Waukeegan Harbour area. Dr. Braden invited members to contribute their suggestions for better terminology than the term “delisting”, which he described as essentially a negative word describing a positive situation. He offered several examples of other terms, including “area of accomplishment,” “attainment,” “success” and “achievement.” Dr. Donahue cautioned that the term “area of recovery” usually connotes an area left to recover naturally, after everything that can be done, has been done, to achieve restoration. Dr. Clark suggested “area of environmental progress” or alternatively, “area of environmental success.”

Dr. Donahue invited input from the members to identify future candidates to serve on the Board, and asked whether there any needs within the work groups that current members are having difficulty filling. Dr. Swackhamer suggested that a microbiologist is an area of expertise that would be helpful if the Work Group on Ecosystem Health undertakes further work on pathogens. Dr. Jones commented that structuring the Board along the lines of chemical, physical and natural integrity, based on the purpose of the Agreement could have merit. Dr. Donahue noted that other aspects could also be important including the social sciences, IJC priorities, and geographic representation throughout the basin. He concluded by suggesting that the a current listing of Board expertise be provided for reference and requested that anyone suggesting names of potential candidates, to forward them to the attention of the Board secretary. 11. FUTURE MEETINGS

(Next) #127 November 13-14, Windsor, Ontario Future (Approved), #128 February 25th, 1:00 to 5:00p.m., Workgroups in a.m. as required N.B. in association with the Mercury Workshop commencing Feb

26 th AM Future (Approved) #129 May 7 - 8 Windsor Ontario Future (Approved) #130 Sept 18, Ann Arbor, MI N.B. in association with the IJC Great Lakes Public Forum

12. ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business of the Board, Mr. Stonehouse moved that the meeting be adjourned with seconding by Mr. Fox. The motion was approved by all present.